The Academy Awards Are Sunday. Has A Montanan Ever Gotten one?

I was reading a story today that the state with the most wins at the Academy Awards is California,  that shouldn't be  surprising.  New York is second with 22 wins. The U.K. has more winners in a leading role than in any state.  All of this got me to thinking,  has anyone from Montana ever received an Academy Award ?  The answer is yes.  In Fact, two people from Montana have won two.

First is Cary Grant.  He was born in Helena in 1901.  His real name is Frank James Cooper.  He won twice.  His first win was for the leading role in Sergeant York. 

In 1952 he won his second for his role in High Noon.

He would go on to be  nominated two more times and in 1961 he was given an Academy Award as an honoree.  He died just a few months after that at the age of 61.

Myrna Loy never won an Oscar but she was given an honorary Oscar in 1991.  She was born Myrna Adele Williams in 1905.  She appeared in over 31 films.

J.K. Simmons.  He won the Best Supporting Actor Award in 2015 for his role in the movie Whiplash.

Just last year he was nominated for his role in Being the Ricardos.  He did not win.

Simmons is a 1978 graduate of the University of Montana.  He has starred in over 100 films.  He may be even more well known for his Farmers Insurance Commercials.

Brad Bird is from Kalispell and he has won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature.